It’s been about six months since we transitioned our company’s primary language to English. I started seriously studying English about a year and a half ago. Interestingly, I, who used to wonder why we needed to learn English when future translators would do the job, am now enthusiastically studying it. Although translation technology has improved dramatically through AI, almost to the level of simultaneous interpretation, ironically, I feel its necessity more than ever.
As a child, I was dragged to English classes by my parents and tried to escape from the burden of rote memorization. No one really explained why learning English was important, or maybe they did, and I just didn’t listen. Whatever the reason, knowing the importance of English back then would have made learning much more enjoyable.
I am someone for whom reasons are crucial. The numerous people I could meet and the global business opportunities that opened up made me rethink my aversion to English. I deeply resonate with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s idea, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood or assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Now that I am conducting business in English, I feel a definite drop in efficiency compared to when I used Korean. My reading speed is about 20% of what it is in Korean, and considering comprehension, it feels like 10%. My ability to persuade and communicate effectively feels like it’s between 30% to 50%. Just as I start to feel more confident with my improving skills, I see so many areas where I am lacking and fall into despair.
A couple of weeks ago, I even questioned why I was putting myself through this hardship. However, I believe my strength lies in not giving up if I think it’s the right direction long-term. Given my goal to excel in business, and with the declining population making it harder to find team members in Korea, I am driven by the fear that focusing only on the domestic market has clear limits. Some might think it’s better to have everything in place before starting in Korea, but switching a small company to English is already incredibly tough; changing the language of a large company seems nearly impossible.
Also, whether it’s playing games, studying, or achieving anything else, I often reflect on the Dunning-Kruger effect. The less knowledgeable are often more confident, and as one progresses, the feeling of despair becomes more frequent because one becomes more aware of those who are better and of higher standards. I used to think I was quite good at Overwatch until I hit the “silver wall,” and I’ve often faced setbacks in competitions despite thinking I was a good student. Writing this, I realize that these feelings of despair should actually be embraced as the path to enlightenment and sustainability.
